8/17/13 8:44 AM CreatorPro | Syllabus for 1138-ANT3241VC1138-84721 - 1138-ANT3241VC1138-84721 Page 1 of 12 http://cpbucket.fiu.edu/1138-ant3241vc1138-84721/syllabus.html GENERAL INFORMATION | IMPORTANT INFORMATION | COURSE DETAIL | COURSE CALENDAR Instructor: Dr. Jean Rahier Office: LC 308 (MMC) Website: http://gss.fiu.edu/people/faculty/jean- muteba-rahier/ Fax: (348) 348-3270 This course is concerned with the boundaries between everyday life and another order of reality: the supernatural world, the world of spirits and gods, magical powers, religions, and mystical dangers, and with what happens when those barriers ease or break apart. Examples are drawn from Europe and North America, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America and the Caribbean. A fundamental premise of the course is that human beings are symbol-making as well as tool- making animals. We understand our world and shape our lives in large part by assigning meanings to objects, beings, events, and persons; by connecting things together in symbolic patterns; and by creating elaborate forms of symbolic action and narrative. The course considers how symbols related to the supernatural world are created and structured; how they draw on and give meaning to different domains of the human world; how they are woven into politics, family life, and the life cycle; and how we can interpret them. The course is particularly aimed at countering the assumption that belief in witchcraft and spirits is particularly associated with the non-western world. Throughout, our goal will be not to promote or debunk belief and practice, but rather to understand them using approaches from anthropology, sociology, social psychology and history, seeing belief and practice in cultural, social and political context and considering their place in people's lives. We will focus on a variety of subject matters including spirit possession and visitation, trance, divination, and altered states of consciousness in particular. This will bring us to explore, among other things: snake handling and trance in Appalachia; spiritualism and mediumship in 19th century America; visitations by the Virgin Mary; claims of abduction by space aliens in late 20th century America, etc. We will also pay careful attention to the fears that other people are causing harm through hidden or mystical means, and the consequences of such fears, especially moral panics. The primary examples will be the great European witch hunt of the 15th- 17th centuries; the Salem Village witchcraft trials of 1692; the fears of satanic abuse; the practice of magic and witchcraft in sub-Saharan Africa; the links between anger and illness in South America; the religious use of drugs, etc. Historical and anthropological research on these topics has grown rapidly in recent decades, changing understandings of witchcraft and spirit possession, and of Western or global north’s relationship to the supernatural world in general. In this course, we will be concerned not so much with coming to absolute conclusions as with learning how to analyze belief and practice; appreciating the complexity and ambiguity of the historical and anthropological record; and with weighing alternative interpretations. Syllabus Myth, Ritual, and Mysticism 1138-ANT3241VC1138-84721 GENERAL INFORMATION PROFESSOR INFORMATION Custom Office Hours On appointment. To meet face-to- face or to schedule a phone coversation, you many arrange an appointment directly through Blackboard messages or call 305 348 4264 or 305 348 4156 to get a time slot in his calendar. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE
Transcript
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GENERAL INFORMATION | IMPORTANT INFORMATION | COURSE DETAIL | COURSE CALENDAR
This course is concerned with the boundaries between everyday life and another order of reality: the supernatural world, theworld of spirits and gods, magical powers, religions, and mystical dangers, and with what happens when those barriers ease orbreak apart. Examples are drawn from Europe and North America, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America and the Caribbean.A fundamental premise of the course is that human beings are symbol-making as well as tool- making animals. We understand ourworld and shape our lives in large part by assigning meanings to objects, beings, events, and persons; by connecting thingstogether in symbolic patterns; and by creating elaborate forms of symbolic action and narrative. The course considers howsymbols related to the supernatural world are created and structured; how they draw on and give meaning to different domainsof the human world; how they are woven into politics, family life, and the life cycle; and how we can interpret them.
The course is particularly aimed at countering the assumption that belief in witchcraft and spirits is particularly associated withthe non-western world. Throughout, our goal will be not to promote or debunk belief and practice, but rather to understandthem using approaches from anthropology, sociology, social psychology and history, seeing belief and practice in cultural, socialand political context and considering their place in people's lives.
We will focus on a variety of subject matters including spirit possession and visitation, trance, divination, and altered states ofconsciousness in particular. This will bring us to explore, among other things: snake handling and trance in Appalachia;spiritualism and mediumship in 19th century America; visitations by the Virgin Mary; claims of abduction by space aliens in late20th century America, etc.
We will also pay careful attention to the fears that other people are causing harm through hidden or mystical means, and theconsequences of such fears, especially moral panics. The primary examples will be the great European witch hunt of the 15th-17th centuries; the Salem Village witchcraft trials of 1692; the fears of satanic abuse; the practice of magic and witchcraft insub-Saharan Africa; the links between anger and illness in South America; the religious use of drugs, etc.
Historical and anthropological research on these topics has grown rapidly in recent decades, changing understandings ofwitchcraft and spirit possession, and of Western or global north’s relationship to the supernatural world in general.In this course, we will be concerned not so much with coming to absolute conclusions as with learning how to analyze belief andpractice; appreciating the complexity and ambiguity of the historical and anthropological record; and with weighing alternativeinterpretations.
SyllabusMyth, Ritual, and Mysticism
1138-ANT3241VC1138-84721
GENERAL INFORMATION
PROFESSOR INFORMATION
Custom OfficeHours
On appointment. To meet face-to-face or to schedule a phonecoversation, you many arrange anappointment directly throughBlackboard messages or call 305348 4264 or 305 348 4156 to get atime slot in his calendar.
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There is no final exam. Students will present a quiz (multiple choice and short answer questions) at the end of each chapter, andwill write two essays and a small research assignment over the course of the semester. We will see a number of films as they willprovide a major source of ethnographic illustration. Each film’s content will be directly related to one or more specificchapter(s). The quizzes will include questions (multiple choice and/or short answer) about the content of every chapter (andtheir related required readings) and the content of all the films.
By the end of this course students will be able to:
Understand the culturally informed and quite diverse human imaginations of the supernatural world and supernaturalforces in different societal contexts, from the post- industrial global north (Western Europe and North America), to theBRIC countries, and so-called traditional societies in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australia.Better understand the linkages and non-hierarchically determining differences among distinct human beliefs, from more orless complex religious systems, about magic and witchcraft, superstition, sorcery and mysticism.Understand the linkages that exist, differently in different societies, between spirituality, religious beliefs, and convictionof the existence of supernatural forces on one side and other aspects of societies including health care.Be able to contextualize their own religious beliefs, spirituality, and/or lack thereof thanks to a better understanding ofbeliefs they are unfamiliar with.Be a better world citizen by understanding the existence of different ways of being human, of being spiritual and religiousor atheist.Describe the nature of anthropological fieldwork and contrast its methodology with that of other disciplines.Explain how terms such as “culture” and “religion” are defined in anthropology.Explain and differentiate between different theoretical approaches to the study of religion.Explain the concept of ritual and categorize different types of ritual.Compare and contrast different types of religious specialists.Explain altered states of consciousness and describe the role they play in religious experiences.Differentiate between various types of supernatural entities including gods, spirits, souls, ghosts, and ancestors.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of the historical and contemporary inter-relatedness of key local, regional and global religiousand spiritual issues and events, including beliefs in magic, witchcraft, sorcery and various kinds of superstitions. (GLOBALAWARENESS)
• Demonstrate the ability to compose an analysis of various perspectives associated with different culturally-basedconceptualizations of the supernatural world and their attendant practices and rituals, which can also be linked to differentgeographic locations on the global stage. (GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE)
• Willingly better engage in a number of problem solving activities in a variety of sociocultural contexts around the globe.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
TEXTBOOK
The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft
Rebecca L. Stein, Phillip L. Stein
Pearson, 3rd Edition, 2011
ISBN: 0-205-71809-4
E-text is available
Readings from this course consist of one text book and a series of articles. There are also severalrequired films. All readings (at the exception of the text book indicated below) and films will beavailable on the course’s Blackboard website. Required readings for the course are located below inthe weekly section for which they are assigned. Required readings must be done PRIOR each week ofclass. This will allow for informed e-participation.
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(GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT)
These three GL student learning outcomes will be assessed as follows:
• Every enrolled student will have to write two relatively short essays during the semester, one during each half of the semester.These essays will be of 5-8 pages and focus on one specific theme/question, which will be revealed to students two weeks priorto the due date. These essays will ask students to demonstrate mastery of the material covered as well as an ability to apply theacquired knowledge to an improved understanding of the global world. As such, each one of these essays’ focus will make directreference to a relevant recent news event. (GLOBAL AWARENESS)
• Students are required to write a term paper (10-12 pages) that will be based on both library research and brief fieldworkconducted in at least one South Florida religious or spiritual community to which the student doesn’t belong. The paper will befocused on one or two closely related and comparable local/global religious performance(s) or ritual(s). One and only one ofthese two religious/spiritual communities may be well known by the student author of the paper.
This GL requirement asks students to demonstrate comprehension of the existence of various perspectives associated withdifferent religious/spiritual subjectivities and diverse cultural backgrounds. It also asks students to demonstrate their willingnessto engage—thanks to what they have learned in this class—in a number of problem solving activities in a variety of socioculturalcontexts around the globe. (GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE and GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT)
Please review the policies page as it contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses at FIU andadditional information on the standards for acceptable netiquette important for online courses.
One of the greatest barriers to taking an online course is a lack of basic computer literacy. By computer literacy we mean beingable to manage and organize computer files efficiently, and learning to use your computer's operating system and softwarequickly and easily. Keep in mind that this is not a computer literacy course; but students enrolled in online courses are expectedto have moderate proficiency using a computer. Please go to the "What's Required" webpage to find out more information on thissubject.
Please visit our Technical Requirements webpage for additional information.
Please visit our ADA Compliance webpage for information about accessibility involving the tools used in this course.
Please visit Blackboard's Commitment Accessibility webpage for more information.
For additional assistance please contact FIU's Disability Resource Center.
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Review the how to get started information located in the course contentIntroduce yourself to the class during the first week by posting a self introduction in the appropriate discussion forumTake the practice quiz to ensure that your computer is compatible with BlackboardInteract online with instructor/s and peersReview and follow the course calendarProvide original answers to the quizzes' questions that will NOT be the product of the recycling of assignment(s) thestudent might have submitted for another course. If students do recycle in this course work they have submitted inanother course, they will receive the grade of zero for the entire assignment, without exception. This expectation alsocounts for all of the essays students have to turn in for this course. All essays MUST be original and may NOT have beensubmitted in another course. Remember, turnitin.com will flag this as plagiarism. Any essay that is partially or entirelyrecycling work submitted in another course will receive the grade of zero.
Students are required to visit the course’s website several times per week and to actively,productively and enthusiasticallyparticipate in e-discussions. The professor has devised a number of questions for each chapter to begin discussions. It isexpected that students will engage in at least 2-3 of these discussions for each one of the chapters for this course. (See“Participation in e-class discussions” below)
There are eleven quizzes based on assigned readings and films. These quizzes will be a combination of multiple choice andshort answer questions and will cover both the contents of the required readings and the films.
1. Plagiarism is a serious offense. If you use the work of other authors without giving them credit, you will receive a ‘0’ forthe assignment and you will be reported to Academic Affairs. To avoid plagiarism, all assignments will have to beuploaded on a turnitin.com site associated with this course.
2. Papers must include a title, your name, the course name and number, and page numbers.3. All email correspondence must begin with a salutation ("Professor Rahier," "Dear Dr. Rahier," "Hi Professor," etc.) and end
with your name. I will not read your email if you fail to include this.4. In this course, we will be discussing topics some might consider sensitive, provocative, or taboo such as race, sexuality,
and religious beliefs. It is imperative that you express your opinions in a respectful manner.5. In your essays and term papers you must avoid quoting at all cost. You must, instead, paraphrase (use your own words).
Paraphrasing should be limited as well. Again, beware of plagiarism.6. You may not quote or make reference to Wikipedia. If you do so, points will be taken away from your assignment. You
may use only and only scholarly sources, that is to say texts published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals or presses. Noteverything you find on the internet has the same quality.
7. When writing essays and term papers, you must make use of the AAA guidelines available on the Course Content page ofthis course's website. Failure to do so will result in points being taken away from your assignment.
Communication between students and the professor in this course will take place via Blackboard messages ONLY. Do not usethe professor’s FIU e-mail address to communicate with him.
The message feature is a private, internal Blackboard only communication system. Users must log on to the blackboard system tosend/receive/read messages. There are no notifications in Blackboard to inform users when a new message has been received;therefore, it is recommended that students check their messages routinely to ensure up-to-date communication.
Remember that all communication with the professor must begin with a salutation like Dear Dr. Rahier or Hello Professor andmust end with your full name. Any messages without these two pieces of information, your message will not be read.
10% (100 points) of the final grade will be reflective of your level of participation in the chapter discussions that the professor
GROUND RULES
COURSE DETAIL
COURSE COMMUNICATION
DISCUSSION FORUMS
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will initiate. There will be more than one discussion open per chapter. The chapter discussions will be open for a limited timeperiod, which will correspond to the chapter we are covering in each specific week (see syllabus). When the discussions of aspecific chapter will close, the discussions of the following chapters will automatically be available. What is looked for here withthis system is your enthusiastic participation IN DUE TIME. It is highly recommended that you keep up with the program set up inthe syllabus and calendar. Participation in chapter discussions help students to score better in quizzes. At the end of thesemester, the professor will review the level of participation of each student in the course's e-archives and assign a participationgrade accordingly. The objective of these discussions is to provide the students with the opportunity to discuss material thatmight be novel and surprising. Discussions help the comprehension of new concepts. However, in order to facilitate the actualdiscussions, and make sure that they stay on focus, students should enter relatively brief (3 paragraphs maximum) interventionsat a time. It is expected that students will participate in at least 2 to 3 discussions per chapter. Feel free to respond—in acourteous manner-directly to another student’s posting. Twice a week, the professor will take a look at the evolving discussionsand intervene as he sees it necessary. The e-space of the discussions may NOT be used for the transmission of personalmessage from a student to another, or from a student tor the professor. For the latter, the course's e-mail and messageposting systems must be used.
There are eleven quizzes based on assigned readings and films. These quizzes will be a combination of multiple choice and shortanswer questions and will cover both the contents of the required readings and the films.
In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is very important that you take the "Practice Quiz"from each computer you will be using to take your graded quizzes and exams. It is your responsibility to make sure yourcomputer meets the minimum hardware requirements. Assessments in this course are not compatible with mobile devices andshould not be taken through a mobile phone or a tablet. If you need further assistance please contact FIU Online SupportServices.
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Every enrolled student will have to write two relatively short essays during the semester, one during each half of thesemester. These essays will be of 5-10 double-spaced pages and focus on one specific theme/question, which will be revealedto students two weeks prior to the due date. These essays will ask students to demonstrate mastery of the material covered aswell as an ability to apply the acquired knowledge to an improved understanding of the global world. As such, each one ofthese essays’ focus will be linked to a relevant recent news event.
Students are required to write a term paper (10-12 double-spaced pages) that will be based on both library research andbrief fieldwork conducted in at least one (preferably South Florida) religious or spiritual community to which thestudent doesn’t belong. The paper will be focused on one or two closely related and comparable local/global religiousperformance(s) or ritual(s). One and only one of these two religious/spiritual communities may be well known by thestudent author of the paper.
This GL requirement (term paper) asks students to demonstrate comprehension of the existence of various perspectivesassociated with different religious/spiritual subjectivities and diverse cultural backgrounds. It also asks students todemonstrate their willingness to engage—thanks to what they have learned in this class—in a number of problem solvingactivities in a variety of sociocultural contexts around the globe. For this assignment, it is highly recommended that studentswork in pair. If the pair is composed of student-participants in different religions, the conduct of the brief ethnographicfieldwork and therefore the actual writing of the paper will be made that much easier. However, keep in mind that thepaper turned in must be done individually.
(See also the section on GL assignments in this syllabus)
Students are required to make a short final e-presentation to the class based on their independent research project. A briefPower Point of 10 to 15 slides will have to be uploaded on the course’s website (the last link on the Discussion Board page)before the end of the semester, by 12/08 at midnight.
Date Tasks
Module 1: TheAnthropologicalStudy of Religion
Weeks of Aug. 26 andSept. 2
-Students’ self-presentations-Presentation and explanation of the course's objectives, student learning outcomes, assignments,and other details-Introduction to the discipline of anthropology and the study of religions•Watch the video "Anthropologists at Work"
Chapter I: The Anthropological Study of ReligionTHE ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVEThe Holistic ApproachThe Study of Human SocietiesThe Fore of New Guinea: An Ethnographic ExampleTwo Ways of Viewing CultureCultural RelativismPostmodernismUniversal Human Rights The Concept of Culture Viewing the WorldTHE STUDY OF RELIGIONAttempts at Defining ReligionThe Domain of ReligionTheoretical Approaches to the Study of ReligionThe Evolutionary ApproachThe Marxist Approach The Functional Approach The Interpretive Approach The PsychosocialApproachThe Biological Basis of Religious Behavior
FINAL E-PRESENTATION
COURSE CALENDAR
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
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Belief in Spirit BeingsThe Evolution of Religion
-Required Readings:•Pages 1-28 of The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft.•“Why We Became Religious and The Evolution of the Spirit World.” In Our Kind, MarvinHarris 1989: pages 16-19.-Watch the short Films “The Discipline of Anthropology” AND “Doing Anthropology.”-Quiz 1 Available for 60 minutes, one attempt, from Thursday September 5 at 4:00PM throughSunday September 8 at midnight.
Module 2: The Natureof Myths
Week of September 9
- Discussion of Global Learning common reading “The Case for Contamination” Participate inspecific e-discussions initiated by the Professor on this article.
Chapter II: Mythology THE NATURE OF MYTHS WorldviewStories of the SupernaturalMythsThe Nature of Oral TextsGenesisUNDERSTANDING MYTHS Approaches to Analysis of MythsSearching for Myth Origins in the Nineteenth CenturyFieldwork and Functional AnalysisStructural AnalysisPsychoanalytic Symbols in MythCommon Themes in Myths Origin Myths Apocalyptic Myths Trickster Myths Hero MythsCONCLUSION
-Required Readings:•GL reading•Pages 29-55 of The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft.•Douglas, Mary 1979 “Taboo.” In Richard Cavendish, ed. Man, Myth, and Magic. Pages 72-76.•Daugherty, Mary Lee 1976 “Serpent-Handling as Sacrament.” Theology Today 33:3. October.Pages 77-82.-Watch Film “Off the Verandah”-Quiz 2 Available for 60 minutes, one attempt, from Thursday September 12 at 4:00PM throughSunday September 15 at midnight.
Module 3: What is aSymbol?
Week of September 16
Chapter III Religious SymbolsWHAT IS A SYMBOL?Religious SymbolsThe SwastikaThe PentagramChristian SymbolsSACRED ARTThe Sarcophagus of Lord PakalThe Meaning of ColorYoruba Color TerminologySACRED SPACE AND SACRED TIME The Meaning of TimeThe Mayan View of TimeRituals and Calendars in Modern World ReligionsSacred Time and Space in AustraliaTotemism and the Dream Time in AustraliaMurngin TotemismTHE SYMBOLISM OF MUSIC AND DANCEThe Symbolism of MusicMusic in RitualThe Symbolism of DanceCONCLUSIONSUMMARY
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BOX 3.1 RELIGIOUS TOYS AND GAMESBOX 3.2 THE END OF TIME
-Required Readings:•Pages 56-76 of The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft.•Wolf, Eric 1958 “The Virgin of Guadalupe: A Mexican National Symbol.” Journal of AmericanFolklore. 71:279. Pages 67-71.-Quiz 3 Available for 60 minutes, one attempt, from Thursday September 19 at 4:00PM throughSunday September 22 at midnight.
Module 4: Ritual
Week of September 23
Chapter IV RitualTHE BASICS OF RITUAL PERFORMANCE Prescriptive and Situational Rituals Periodic and OccasionalRitualsA Classification of RitualsA SURVEY OF RITUALS Technological RitualsHunting and Gathering Rites of IntensificationProtective RitualsSocial Rites of Intensification Offerings and Sacrifices Human SacrificeTherapy Rituals and HealingThe NavahoAnti-Therapy Rituals Salvation Rituals Revitalization RitualsRites of PassageThe Structure of a Rite of PassageComing-of-Age RitualsTransition and LiminalityApache Rite of PassageU.S. Secular Rites of PassageAlterations of the Human BodyTattooing and Other Permanent AlterationsGenital CuttingPilgrimagesThe Huichol PilgrimageRELIGIOUS OBLIGATIONS TabuMana and Tabu in PolynesiaJewish Food LawsCONCLUSION SUMMARYBOX 4.1 THE HAJJBOX 4.2 MENSTRUAL TABUS
-Required Readings:•Pages 77-102 of The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft.•Turner, Victor 1964 “Betwixt and Between: The Liminal Period in Rites de Passage.” TheProceedings of the New American Ethnological Society…: 87-96.•Miner, Horace 1956 “Body Ritual Among the Nacirema.” American Anthropologist 58: 135-138.-Watch Film: “Guardians of the Flutes”-Quiz 4 Available for 60 minutes, one attempt, from Thursday September 26 at 4:00PM throughSunday September 29 at midnight.
Module 5: Altered
Chapter V Altered State of ConsciousnessTHE NATURE OF ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS Entering an Altered State of ConsciousnessFastingSacred PainThe Biological Basis of Altered States of ConsciousnessDrug Induced Altered StatesThe Importance of a Ritual SettingThe Role of Altered States in Religious PracticeETHNOGRAPHIC EXAMPLES OF ALTERED STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESSThe Holiness ChurchesSan Healing RitualsThe Sun Dance of the Cheyenne Religious Use of Drugs in South America Rastafarians
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State ofConsciousness
Week of September 30
CONCLUSIONSUMMARYBOX 5.1 ALTERED STATES IN UPPER PALEOLITHIC ARTBOX 5.2 THE NATIVE AMERICAN CHURCH
-Required Readings:•Pages 103-118 of The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft.•Lewis, I.M. 2003 “Trance, Possession, Shamanism, and Sex.” Anthropology of Consciousness, 14:1.Pages 188-195.•Kiyaani, Mike and Thomas Csordas 1997 “On the Peyote Road.” Natural History. March: 207-209.•Furst, Peter and Michael Coe 1977 “Ritual Enemas.” Natural History. March: 210-213.-Watch Film: “The Peyote Road”-Quiz 5 Available for 60 minutes, one attempt, from Thursday October 3 at 4:00PM throughSunday October 6 at midnight.
Module 6: ReligiousSpecialists
Week of October 7
Chapter VI Religious SpecialistsSHAMANSDefining ShamanismBecoming a ShamanThe Shamanic Role and RitualsSiberian ShamanismYakut ShamanismShamanism among the Akimel O’odhamKorean ShamanismPentecostal Healers as ShamansNeoshamanismPRIESTSZuni PriestsOkinawan PriestessesEastern Orthodox PriestsOTHER SPECIALISTS Healers and Diviners ProphetsCONCLUSIONSUMMARYBOX 6.1 CLOWN DOCTORS AS SHAMANSBOX 6.2 AFRICAN HEALERS MEET WESTERN MEDICINE
-Required Readings:•Pages 119-135 of The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft.•Turner, Victor 1972 “Religious Specialists.” International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences.David Sills, Ed. Vol. 13: 142 149.•Fobes Brown, Michael 1989 “Dark Side of the Shaman.” Natural History. November: 158-161.-Quiz 6 Available for 60 minutes, one attempt, from Thursday October 10 at 4:00PM throughSunday October 13 at midnight.
Module 7: Magic andDivination
Chapter VII Magic and DivinationTHE WORLD OF MAGICMagic and Religion Magic and Science Rules of Magic Homeopathic MagicThe Function of MagicWhy Magic WorksMAGIC IN SOCIETYMagic in the Trobriand IslandsLearning MagicMagical RitualMagic among the AzandeSorcery among the ForeWiccan MagicDIVINATIONForms of DivinationDivination Techniques Inspirational Forms Ordeals
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Week of October 14 Fore DivinationOracles of the AzandeDivination in Ancient Greece: The Oracle at DelphiAstrology CONCLUSION SUMMARYBOX 7.1 TROBRIAND ISLAND MAGICBOX 7.2 I-CHING: THE BOOK OF CHANGES
-Required Readings:•Pages 136-160 of The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft. •Malinowski, Bronislaw1955 “Rational Mastery by Man of His Surroundings.” In Magic, Science and Religion. New York:Doubleday: 314-319.•Gmelch, George 1971 “Baseball Magic.” Transaction. 8:8. 320-327.-Quiz 7 Available for 60 minutes, one attempt, from Thursday October 17 at 4:00PM throughSunday October 20 at midnight.
Module 8: Souls,Ghosts, and Death
Week of October 21
Chapter VIII Souls, Ghosts, and DeathSOULS AND ANCESTORSVariation in the Concept of the Soul Souls, Death and the Afterlife Examples of Concepts of the SoulYup’ik SoulsYanomamö Spirits and SoulsHmong SoulsThe Soul in Roman CatholicismThe Soul in Hinduism and BuddhismAncestorsYoruba AncestorsBeng Ancestors and ReincarnationTana Toraja AncestorsAncestors and the Departed in JapanBODIES AND SOULSGhostsDani Ghosts Bunyoro Ghosts Japanese GhostsThe Living Dead: Vampires and ZombiesVampiresThe Viking DraugrHaitian ZombiesZombies in Modern American CultureDEATH RITUALSFuneral RitualsDisposal of the BodyBurialThe African Burial GroundSecondary Burials Cremation Mummification ExposureU.S. Death Rituals in the Nineteenth CenturyU.S. Funeral Rituals Today
DAYS OF DEATH HalloweenDay of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) CONCLUSIONSUMMARYBOX 8.1 HOW DO YOU GET TO HEAVEN?BOX 8.2 DETERMINING DEATH BOX 8.3 ROADSIDE MEMORIALS
-Required Readings:•Pages 161-188 of The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft.•Barber, Paul 1988 “The Real Vampire.” From Vampires, Burial, and Death by Paul Barber.Pages 332-337.•Brandes, Stanley 2001 “The Cremated Catholic: The End of a Deceased Guatemalan.” Body andSociety. 7:2-3. Pages 349-355.-FIRST SHORT ESSAY (5-10 DOUBLE-SPACED PAGES) DUE ON 10/23 BY MIDNIGHT -Quiz 8 Available for 60 minutes, one attempt, from Thursday October 24 at 4:00PM throughSunday October 27 at midnight.
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Module 9: Gods andSpirits
Weeks of October 28and November 4
Chapter IX Gods and SpiritsSPIRITSThe Dani View of the SupernaturalGuardian Spirits and the Native American Vision QuestJinnSpirit Possession in the SudanChristian Angels and Demons
GODS
Types of GodsGods and SocietyThe Gods of the Yoruba Gods of the Ifugao GoddessesIshtar (Ancient Near East)Isis (Ancient Egypt) Kali (Hinduism) Mary (Roman Catholic)Monotheism: Conceptions of God in Judaism, Christianity, and IslamJudaism Christianity IslamAtheism
CONCLUSION
SUMMARYBOX 9.1 CHRISTIAN DEMONIC EXORCISM IN THE UNITED STATESBOX 9.2 GAMES AND GODS
-Required Readings:•Pages 189-212 of The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft.-Quiz 9 Available for 60 minutes, one attempt, from Thursday November 7 at 4:00PM throughSunday November 10 at midnight.
Module 10:Witchcraft
Week November 11
Chapter X WitchcraftTHE CONCEPT OF WITCHCRAFT IN SMALL-SCALE SOCIETIES Witchcraft AzandeThe Zande Belief in WitchcraftA Case of WitchcraftAn Analysis of Zande Witchcraft BeliefsWitchcraft among the NavahoWitchcraft Reflects Human CultureSorcery, Witchcraft, and AIDSEURO-AMERICAN WITCHCRAFT BELIEFS The Connection with Pagan Religions The Witchcraze inEuropeThe Witchcraze in England and the United StatesFunctions of Euro-American Witchcraft BeliefsWitches as WomenModern-Day Witch HuntsBOX 10.1 THE EVIL EYEBOX 10.2 SATANISM
-Required Readings:•Pages 213-229 of The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft.•Evans-Pritchard, E.E. 2010 “Consulting the Poison Oracle Among the Azande” In Magic,Witchacraft and Religion. McGraw Hill: 308-313.•Brain, James 1989 “An Anthropological Perspective on the Witchcraze.” In The Politics of Genderin Early Modern Europe, J. Brink, A. Coudert, and M. Horowitz, eds. Sixteenth Century JournalPublishers: 283-289.-Watch Film: “Strange Beliefs”-Quiz 10 Available for 60 minutes, one attempt, from Thursday November 14 at 4:00PMthrough Sunday November 17 at midnight.
Chapter XI The Search for new Meaning
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Module 11: Thesearch for the newmeaning
Weeks of November18 and November 25
ADAPTATION AND CHANGEMechanisms of Culture ChangeAcculturationSyncretism Haitian Vodou History of Vodou Vodou Beliefs SanteriaREVITALIZATION MOVEMENTSThe Origins of Revitalization MovementsTypes of Revitalization MovementsCargo CultsThe Ghost Dance of 1890The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormonism) NEO-PAGANISM AND REVIVALThe Wiccan MovementWiccan Beliefs and RitualsThe Growing Popularity—and Persecution—of WiccaNEW RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTSThe “Cult” QuestionCharacteristics of High Demand Religious GroupsMind Control?Genuinely Dangerous Religious GroupsExamples of New Religious MovementsBranch Davidians (Students of the Seven Seals)Unification Church (Moonies) UFO ReligionsHeaven’s GateRaeliansFUNDAMENTALISMCharacteristics of Fundamentalist GroupsMormon FundamentalismIslamic FundamentalismCONCLUSION SUMMARYBOX 11.1 THE JOHN FRUM CULTBOX 11.2 RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM
-Required Readings:•Pages 230-258 of The Anthropology of Religion, Magic, and Witchcraft.•McCarthy Brown, Karen 2005 “Vodou.” In Encyclopedia of Religion, Second Edition, Thomson GalePub.: 338-344.•Wallace, Anthony 1970 “Revitalization Movements.” In Anthony Wallace’s Culture and Personality,N.Y.: Random House: 360-365.•Barkun, Michael 1993 “Reflections After Waco: Millenialists and the State.” Christian Century,June: 177-183.•Juergensmeyer, Mark 2002 “Religious Terror and Global War.” In Understanding September 11, C.Calhoun, ed., NY: The Free Press: 435-443.
-Watch Film: “Orientalism”-Quiz 11 Available for 60 minutes, one attempt, from Monday November 25 at 4:00PM throughSunday December 1 at midnight.
Module 12
Week of December 2
SECOND SHORT ESSAY (5-10 DOUBLE-SPACED PAGES) DUE ON 12/04 BY MIDNIGHT
-Students’ Submission of Term Papers on the Blackboard website associated with this coursemust be done by 12/08 at midnight.
